The sociology doctoral degree provides rigorous training in public and applied social research, including skills in research design, data analysis, and substantive areas that are pertinent to various sectors in the Washington, D.C. area. Graduates have the theoretical, analytical, and professional skills that prepare them for academic positions in teaching or research. They are also well-qualified for nonacademic positions in the many settings that rely on the expertise of sociologists including human service agencies, marketing research firms, educational systems, nonprofit foundations, and law enforcement agencies.
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.
Students who enter the program with a master's degree may be allowed a reduction of credit up to 30 credits subject to the approval of the graduate director and the dean.
Total credits: 72
Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.
Following completion of all required course work and passing a candidacy exam, students are advanced to candidacy by the dean and complete a dissertation, an original and independent research project.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Foundation Course | ||
| SOCI 601 | Proseminar in Public and Applied Sociology | 3 |
| Courses of Theory | ||
| SOCI 711 | Classical Sociological Theory | 3 |
| SOCI 712 | Contemporary Sociological Theory | 3 |
| Writing | ||
| SOCI 602 | Writing for the Social Sciences | 3 |
| Required Courses of Methodology and Analysis | ||
| SOCI 620 | Methods and Logic of Social Inquiry | 3 |
| SOCI 636 | Statistical Reasoning | 3 |
| Elective Course of Methodology and Analysis | ||
| Select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Special Topics in Sociology (when topic is Critical Theory or Feminist Theory, may substitute for this requirement or for one course under the statistics/methods requirement.) | ||
| Analytic Techniques of Social Research | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods | ||
| Statistics/Methods | ||
| Select two from the following: | 6 | |
| Special Topics in Sociology (when topic is Critical Theory or Feminist Theory, may substitute for one course under this requirement or for the elective methodology and analysis course.) | ||
| Survey Research | ||
| Evaluation Research for Social Programs | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods | ||
| Ethnography | ||
| Historical and Comparative Sociology | ||
| Historical and Comparative Sociology | ||
| Methods in Anthropology | ||
| Feminist Approaches to Social Research | ||
| Feminist Research Practice | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOCI 803 | Institutions and Inequality | 3 |
| SOCI 804 | Sociology of Globalization | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Students specialize in either institutions and inequalities or sociology of globalization. Depending on the topic, special topics courses SOCI 633 Special Topics in Sociology and SOCI 833 Special Topics in Sociology (or others) may be applied to the specialization with prior written approval of the director. Up to two courses may be from outside sociology, chosen in consultation with (and with approval of) the student’s advisor or the graduate director.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 3 courses toward the degree from the following: | 9 | |
| Gender and Social Structure | ||
| Juvenile Delinquency | ||
| Sociology of Culture | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Relations: American and Selected Global Perspectives | ||
| International Migration in the Age of Globalization | ||
| Environment and Society | ||
| Micro Sociology: Inequality and Everyday Life | ||
| Social Networks, New Media, and Inequality | ||
| Work Organizations and Social Inequality | ||
| Youth, Schooling, and Popular Culture | ||
| Society and Education | ||
| Cities in a Global Society | ||
| Sociology of Human Rights | ||
| Special Topics in Sociology (with prior written approval of director) | ||
| Special Topics in Sociology (with prior written approval of director) | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 3 courses toward the degree from the following: | 9 | |
| Sociology of Culture | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Relations: American and Selected Global Perspectives | ||
| International Migration in the Age of Globalization | ||
| Environment and Society | ||
| Social Networks, New Media, and Inequality | ||
| Sociology of Development | ||
| Globalization and Social Movements | ||
| Cities in a Global Society | ||
| Sociology of Human Rights | ||
| Refugees in the Contemporary World | ||
| International Migration in Comparative Perspective | ||
| Nationalism, Transnationalism, and States: Local and Global Perspectives | ||
| Special Topics in Sociology (with prior written approval of director) | ||
| Special Topics in Sociology (with prior written approval of director) | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select six elective courses | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Electives may include up to two courses from outside sociology, chosen in consultation with and approval of the graduate director.
Students must demonstrate proficiency in a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods prior to taking the qualifying exams for candidacy. Proficiency is determined by satisfactory course work or an exam.
To advance to candidacy, students must complete all course work required on their approved program of study. Students must also successfully pass one written qualifying examination. The comprehensive exam tests students' mastery of the foundations of sociological inquiry, linking research methods and sociological theory to public concerns, as well as material in the student's area of specialization. It is administered by a faculty committee appointed by the graduate program director. Additionally, students must have an approved dissertation committee. Evidence of completed requirements must be on file in the Dean's Office before a student can advance to candidacy.
Once enrolled in SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation, students must maintain continuous registration each semester (excluding summers) until the dissertation is submitted to and accepted by the University Libraries. Once enrolled in SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation, students must follow the university's continuous registration policy as specified in AP.6.10.6 Dissertation Research. Students who defend in the summer must be registered for at least 1 credit of SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation.
Students complete a minimum of 3 credits of SOCI 998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal and 3 credits of SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation. They may apply a maximum of 12 dissertation credits (SOCI 998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal and SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation combined) to the degree. Because of the continuous registration policy, students may be required to register for additional credits of SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation. Because students cannot register for credits of SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation until they have advanced to PhD candidacy, they may choose (but are not required) to register for additional credits of SOCI 998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Doctoral Dissertation Proposal | ||
| Doctoral Dissertation | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |